Auto-top window-frame



J. R. SANFORD.

AUT() TOP WINDOW FRAME. APPLICATION FILED APR. l. 1920.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. SANFORD, 0F SALISBURY, CONNECTICUT.

AUTO-Tor WINDOW-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatented Apr.. 26, 1921.

Application filed April 1, 1920. Serial No. 370,556.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. SANFORD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Salisbury, Litchfield county, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Auto-Top Window-F rame, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to provide a frame which can be made and sold at a reasonable price, and which can be readily applied by anyone without special skill or special tools. Another object is to provide a construction of this character which is neat and attractive in appearance and which will not tear or injure the curtain or to to which it is applied. Another object 1s to provide such a construction which will hold the glass Or other transparent material securely without breaking it. Another Object is to'provide a construction which will not corrode, discolor or rot out the material of the top or curtain.

In carrying out the invention the frame is made of two parts, each of which is preferably of rubber, ofsuch a composition and vulcanized so as to have suflicient rigidity and yet suiicient flexibility and resiliency for cushioning. The two parts of the frame are secured together by a series of fastening devices, preferably in the form of kbolts or screws. Transparent material, such as glass or. celluloid, is preferablv secured to one of the parts of the frame, for convenience in handling. The two parts of the frame are so constructed that the edges of the curtain or top material at the Opening are clamped between the parts of the frame when they are secured together. 4

Figure 1 is atransverse sectional view showing one form of construction of frame and fragments Of the attached curtain and glass;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showingvthe two parts of the frame separated;

ig. 3 is an outline view of one part of one form of frame;

Fig. 4 is an outline View of One'part of another form of frame; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of. construction, the yparts being shown separated.

The two parts 10 and '11 of the frame are molded in the form desired. The composition of rubber may be compounded with ber, textile or other material to secure the desired stiffness when vulcanized, so as to result in an article having comparatively low stretch but suilicient flexibility and resiliency for good cushioning. The two parts are clamped on opposite sides of the fabric 12 of the curtain or top by means of fastening devices, each of which, in its preferred form, comprises a screw 13, which passes through the part 11 of the frame and screws into a nut 14 embedded in the part 10. The glass 15 or other transparent material of the window is mounted in a groove 16 in one of the parts of the frame. One wall of this groove is preferably in the form of a series of flaps, such as 17, which are disconnected, as at 18, to facilitate molding the frame and also to facilitate the insertion of the glass. I also preferably provide an offset portion 19 on one of the parts of the frame,.so as to leave space for the material 12 and at the same time provide' a smooth, finished appearance and cover up the edges of the material when the parts are applied. The part 1l is provided with'openings, such as 20, which register with the nuts 14 in the other part of the frame.

'It will be obvious that the shape of the cross section of the frame may be varied and that the outline may be of any form desired. For instance, F ig. 3 shows an ovalframe and Fig. 4 shows a rectangular frame.

Instead of molding the nut in one of the parts of the frame as above described, the screw or bolt member 13 may be molded in the part l0', as shown in F ig. 5. In this case the other part will have an Opening Or passage 20 for the threaded portion of the screw 13'., and there is provided a nut 14 adapted to screw onto the thread of the bolt or screw, to clamp the parts 10 and 11 together. l

If desired, one or both of the parts of the frame may be reinforced with metal or other material, as shown in Fig. 5. lIn this case the'member 10 is reinforced by a stripy 21, which may, if desired, be secured to the bolts 13. The part 1l may be similarly reinforced b lOne or more strips, such as 22,

so as to glve added stiffness without materially detracting from the resiliency and cushioning effect provided by the rubbery composition. i

It should also be understoodthat instead of. providing spacing shoulders 19 on `the member 11, asishown in Fig. 2, I may pro- `ing the curtain or top material break and give way around the edges of the frame. It also avoids cutting the fabric around the edge of the frame, and provides: a watertight joint, which overcomes the rusting, corroding and rotting effect of metal frames. By making the frame of rubber it can be molded and vulcanized complete, with little or no waste, at a minimum eX- pense. Y

The construction is of such a character that it can be readily applied by anyone, either in the facto-ry where tops and curtains are made, or by the car owner or repair man as a replacement. It will also be obvious that in case the glass in one of my framesl isbro-ken', it can be readily replaced at a minimum expense.

The composition can be lmade very light in weight and consequently produce a mini' mum strain upon the fabric of the top or curtain. By making the inside section of the frame smooth, no obstruction to the free working of curtains or shades exists.

I claim:

l. A frame of the character described, consisting of two parts formed of rubber and adapted to i clamp between `them the edges of supporting fabric, clamping screwsfor holding the two parts of the frame together, and a transparent window element secured toone of the rubber parts .of the frame.

2. As anarticle of manufacture, a frame of the character described, comprising a rubber part, a glass vwindow removably secured thereto, a second part, and a series of screws for clamping the two parts together with the. fabric between them.

3. A frame of the character described, comprising a rubber part having a groove with iaps along one edge thereof, a transparent window member mounted in said groove, a second part, and clamping screws for holding the two parts together with the fabric between them.

4. A frame of the character described, comprising two parts, one of which'is formed of a rubber composition, a glass window velement carried by said parts, interior means for reinforcing the said rubber part, and clamping devices for fastening the two parts together with fabric between them.

5. A frame of the character described, comprising two parts, one .of which is of a rubber composition which is resilient but has inherent stiffness, a glass window carried thereby, and fastening devices passing through one of said parts and seated'in the other part, forfholding the parts together and clamping a fabric betweenV said parts.

JOSEPH R. SANFORD. 

